I have been saying "Goodbye" to several of my friends. You probably do not know some of my friends. I estimate to have about 1,100 of them. B. H. Carroll provided me some of my friends. He wrote the volumes, INTERPRETATION OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE. Carroll was a former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
Two old timers (classics) adorn my shelves: Armitages' HISTORY OF BAPTISTS and Orchard's BAPTIST HISTORY A. D. 33 TO 1800. Orchard tried to prove that Baptists go all the way back to Jesus. Armitage believed in what has been called the "spiritual kinship" theory in which he did not believe you could trace Baptists back to the first centuery but there were groups who are "kin" to us going back to the time of Jesus. Neither theory is accepted by Baptist historians today, but they are classics.
Then there are friends from my former professors: REVELATION AS DRAMA by James Blevins, THE INTEGRITY OF THE CHURCH by E. Glenn Hinson, ACTS by John Polhill, THE WORD OF TRUTH by Dale Moody, ACTS by Frank Stagg, EXODUS by Page Kelly, DEUTERONOMY by Clyde Francisco, SURPRISED BY GOD by James Cox, etc.
Some of my friends are from devotional writers: PRAYERS by Michel Quoist, CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE by St. Augustine, THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN by Thomas Merton, KNOWING GOD by J. I. Packer, PILGRIM'S PROGRESS by John Bunyan, PURITY OF HEART by Soren Kierkegaard, MARKINGS by Dag Hammarskjold, etc.
A friend on administration: THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH by Rick Warren. A controversial friend: THE MESSAGE OF GENESIS BY Ralph Elliot. A more recent friend: COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE by Siang-Yang Tan.
I am keeping some. I am leaving some for you, my friends, to take with you. They are on tables in the Family Life Center. They are my books.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
CHANGING POSITIONS
My announcement recently may have seemed abrupt so I want to let you in on the process leading up to my decision. As I have anticipated at some time stepping aside as lead pastor I have considered the possibility of mission work or hospital chaplaincy.
Two years ago in September I began taking a second unit in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Spring River Christian Village under the direction of Dr. Richard Dayringer from Grove, Oklahoma. Dr. Dayringer is a seasoned clinician who has supervised students, written several books on clinical work, and is a walking history book of the disicpline. On Monday (my day off) from September through May I have finished a second and third unit in CPE. This involved a morning in classes and peer group and clinical work in the afternoons.
I was not certain that I wanted to serve as a hospital chaplain but that was a strong option. Even if I would not serve as a chaplain, I felt the second and third units would benefit my work as a pastor. I had completed my first unit in CPE as a part of the Doctor of Ministry. While serving as a pastor, I also worked several hours in Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Hospital chaplaincy positions do not come available that often and I was content to remain pastor at FBC and have been excited about upcoming ministries through the church. However, Dr. Todd Decker, who heads up the Pastoral Care team at Freeman Hospitcal in Joplin, contacted me a few weeks ago. After we talked, he offered me the position.
Marie and I really struggled with whether this was an "open door." On one hand I felt committed to continue serving as a pastor. Severing long-time relationships over 33+ years could be sad indeed. But after much conversation, prayer, and counsel, we felt this is an opportunity the Lord has provided. We love the FBC family and pray the very best for her future. I am excited about my ministry as a hospital chaplain. Remember us in prayer.
Two years ago in September I began taking a second unit in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Spring River Christian Village under the direction of Dr. Richard Dayringer from Grove, Oklahoma. Dr. Dayringer is a seasoned clinician who has supervised students, written several books on clinical work, and is a walking history book of the disicpline. On Monday (my day off) from September through May I have finished a second and third unit in CPE. This involved a morning in classes and peer group and clinical work in the afternoons.
I was not certain that I wanted to serve as a hospital chaplain but that was a strong option. Even if I would not serve as a chaplain, I felt the second and third units would benefit my work as a pastor. I had completed my first unit in CPE as a part of the Doctor of Ministry. While serving as a pastor, I also worked several hours in Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Hospital chaplaincy positions do not come available that often and I was content to remain pastor at FBC and have been excited about upcoming ministries through the church. However, Dr. Todd Decker, who heads up the Pastoral Care team at Freeman Hospitcal in Joplin, contacted me a few weeks ago. After we talked, he offered me the position.
Marie and I really struggled with whether this was an "open door." On one hand I felt committed to continue serving as a pastor. Severing long-time relationships over 33+ years could be sad indeed. But after much conversation, prayer, and counsel, we felt this is an opportunity the Lord has provided. We love the FBC family and pray the very best for her future. I am excited about my ministry as a hospital chaplain. Remember us in prayer.
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